What time does The Boat Race start?

The women’s race starts at 4.31pm followed by the men’s race at 5.31pm.

Last year, Oxford trounced Cambridge to win their fourth men's race in five years. It wasn't all bad news, however, as Cambridge won the women's race for the first time since 2012.

This year's race is now a David vs Goliath battle between the Oxford and Cambridge men's teams, as Oxford will be defending their title. The Cambridge women, meanwhile, will be hoping to make it two consecutive years as race winners- but don't expect the Oxford women's team to go down without a fight.

Top paddling everyone! (Image: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)

The route

The Boat Race takes place along the river Thames, starting at Putney Bridge and ending at Chiswick Bridge in Mortlake. The course passes through Fulham, Hammersmith and Barnes. The Championship course is 4 miles, 374 yards, equivalent to 6.8km.

The race has used this course every year since 1845, apart from 1846, 1856 and 1863 when the race was done in the opposite direction between Mortlake and Putney.

The races are rowed upstream, but are timed to start on the incoming flood tide.

The record time over the course in The Boat Race is 16 minutes 19 seconds, set by Cambridge in 1998.

Where to watch the boat race

Putney Bridge is where it all begins and spectators can quickly make their way to nearby Bishop’s Park, where the rest of the racing will be shown on a big screen. Nearest Tube/rail station: Putney Bridge.

A spot in front of the boathouses on Putney Embankment is a good place to catch the early stages, while Hammersmith Bridge provides great views of the crews as they come around the Surrey bend and head towards Chiswick Eyot. Nearest Tube/rail station: Putney Bridge.

Chiswick Pier offers a glimpse of the action as the races begin to come to a conclusion while the nearby Emanuel School Boathouse will have a barbecue and bar open from 12.30pm. Nearest Tube/rail station: Chiswick.

Dukes Meadow provides a good place to check out the crews as they head to the finish line. Nearest Tube/rail station: Barnes Bridge.

TV coverage

The BBC will be covering the boat race live on BBC 1 at 3.50pm on Saturday, March 24. Claire Balding will present two hours of coverage live from the banks of the River Thames. You'll also be able to stream it online via the Boat Race Youtube channel.

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There will also be a number of pubs in Cambridge where you can watch, including the Fort St. George, Champion of the Thames and the Green Dragon.

Cambridge lost out to Oxford in the Boat Race on the Tideway. (Image: PA Wire)

Crews

This year's mens team will be led by President Hugo Ramambason, who presides over one of the strongest Cambridge men's squads in years. He is joined by James Letten, the tallest man to have rowed in the race, as well as other returners including Charles Fisher and Robert Hurn, with other athletes including David Bell and Callum Sullivan.

In the women’s crew, Daphne Martshcenko returns to the squad as President, after being absent for 2017's race. She leads a team that includes Myriam Goudet (returning from last year's winning crew), as well as new additions Clare Pearson, Alice Whit, Imogen Grant and Olivia Coffey, the American Olympic Spare in 2016.